Monaghan's Old Firm met in last October's MFC final. Scotstown added to their renaissance at underage level by taking the spoils of war at the expense of 'Blayney. Shareholders in Scotstown GAA have been reaping some rich dividends of late as the club's stock listing hits heights rarely seen over the last couple of decades. The blues have been chiselling out a particularly bumper return on their investment at underage level in recent seasons with trophies being scooped at minor and under 21 levels. Monaghan Football Inc. has returned a handsome profit this last while and gaels in the parish of Tydavnet are getting in on the act with some consistency. Last year the club won the Minor Football League but those at the coalface weren't sated. It was championship or bust in '07. As luck would have it, An Bhoth went the distance at minor ranks in the blue riband competition, beating age-old rivals Castleblayney Faughs by 1-13 to 1-8 in the final in Clontibret. Team-trainer Gerard Caulfield is wont to take umbrage though at any suggestion that Scotstown may have been lucky on October 14th last: "We got the rub of the green alright but you don't win championships just on luck alone," the former club and county star insists. "Our lads got everything they deserved and they got nothing easy. They beat Monaghan Harps, the league winners, in the championship semi-final and then beat the other top team in the competition in the final so they did it the hard way and proved themselves the best team in their age group in 2007." Emboldened by the pain of having lost last year's corresponding fixture to Monaghan Harps, the Class of 2007 did themselves, their team-management and the club itself proud. In what turned out to be a three-horse race between Scotstown, 'blayney and the Harps, the first-named showed the greater stamina, will-to-win and football nous in coming out on top. Scotstown showed their determination and character by beating the Harps in the '06 league final, just one week after losing out to the same opposition in the championship final. It seems the players didn't do themselves justice in the championship decider and Caulfield and Co back then wondered at the time just how much it actually hurt the players: "As a management team, Dermot (Maguire) the manager and Michael (Caulfield) as a selector and myself as trainer maybe felt even more disappointed than the players at the time. "When you get older, defeat is harder to take but the lads were on a learning curve and maybe took it in their stride and weren't as disappointed as we thought they would have been. Luckily, instead of going backwards, their characters developed and they used the experience of losing the championship final in '06 and '07 showed they had learned out of defeat." Caulfield details how the campaign of 2007 was so much different to the battles fought last year. Collectively, the competition was much stiffer in 2006, he estimates. In 2007 the lop-sided nature of results in the top division at minor level threatened to lend a false impression of Scotstown's true worth, Caulfield testifies. Even in the head-to-heads with the other big two in the minor ranks, the formbook was as easy to read as double-dutch. "Because there were so many matches that we won easily, it was hard to know just how the team was going to perform when the heat was turned up," Caulfield explains. "We beat 'blayney by 12 points in Scotstown in the league but then the following week they beat us by a point in the semi-final after we finished second and they finished in third spot. "Before that game, the Harps beat us by eleven points so the form of every team was up and down and it was hard to know what way things would eventually fall." So how did Scotstown's think-tank seek to address this rollercoaster form and eliminate the inconsistencies in the team's performances? "We basically demanded that the lads upped their commitment levels because we knew if their preparation for games was right, they had the ability to beat whoever they met. "That proved to be the case in the championship semi-final when we turned the Harps over even though they would have been hot favourites after hammering us in the league." Turning over a new leaf in their championship expeditions was the name of the game for Scotstown's young guns when 'blayney came calling in last October's county final. As things panned out, the young blues left their best wine 'till last to leave their opponents punch drunk and wondering what might have been. "I'd say our performance in the championship final this year was our best overall of the campaign," says team-trainer Caulfield. "We had a great team display plus the fact that all six forwards got on the scoresheet and our centre-back too made it that bit more satisfying too. "Nobody, apart from maybe one or two, stood out on the day. There was a lot of pressure on everyone to perform but they produced the goods when they needed to most of all. "You couldn't have wished for a better team performance than what we got in the championship final and it was great to win our first minor (championship) for nine years." Fingering his way through the finer points of Scotstown's 1-13 to 1-8 championship final triumph over 'blayney, Caulfield admits that it was a tough contest that did the teams' justice. "I felt we had the edge throughout but even when we got five points ahead on a couple of occasions during the second half that things were far from settled. "No matter how much a team might have the edge in a final, there'll always be a stage when the opposition have their moments and that's the way it was with 'blayney. "They had one or two goal chances when they were trying to get back on terms but our defence held tight although we lost our 'keeper in the process at one stage." Certainly the loss through injury of netminder Sean Gilheaney in the third quarter seemed to have an unsettling effect on the would-be victors. "We were that bit vulnerable initially after the change of 'keepers but we settled down and Mark (Daly) came in and did a good job with the rest of the lads at the back. "We lost the league semi-final earlier in the year to 'blayney by a point in Scotstown when we owned the ball but had no luck at all that day. "We were due a bit of luck this time around in the championship and, in fairness, we got it when they hit the post when we were just two points in front late on." The truth is, Scotstown earned whatever luck came their way in the championship final with Mark McDevitt's timley goal in the 18th minute helping to propel the blues to victory. McDevitt's major eased the parish outfit into a 1-4 to 0-4 interval lead but the issue was destined to go to the wire, especially after 'blayney's goal in the 49th minute left just two in it. Indeed when 'blayney proceeded to cut their deficit to the minimum, there was a hint of a Faughs' victory but Caulfield says he never felt that outcome was on the cards. "I felt confident our lads wouldn't allow it to slip from their grasp, especially after the pain of 2006 being still fresh and that's the way it proved. "Mark McDevitt hit a great point about ten minutes from the end of the match to steady the ship and after they hit the post we went up a couple of gears to pile on the scores." Scotstown did indeed finish with a flourish - a sign of a very determined and classy team. The final whistle was sweet music to Caulfield and Co. "The bar has been raised now and that's what's needed for these fellas to push on and make an impression at senior level in the next couple of years," the team trainer insists. "They showed the commitment we wanted of them and they got their due rewards but now, between the ages of 18 and 21, it's going to be a very important period for them. "We have an awful lot of players at the club but we need more fellows to be playing intercounty football and that's the challenge for these fellas. "I'd say there's a handful of them well capable of getting a run at county level and another six or seven who can go on and improve enough to get recognition down the line. "Winning the under 21 title earlier in the year and then the minor has given the club a great boost and they've had a very positive impact on the players. "The success will increase expectations but it's up to the club to nurse these fellas over the next three years or so because you have to provide guidance." The following is the team, subs and scorers, that featured in the 2007 MFC final against Castleblayney Faughs: Sean Gilheaney; Niall Sherry, Niall McKenna, James Connolly-Hughes; Fintan Treanor, Ciaran Hughes (0-2), Damien McArdle; Gavin Turley, Peter O'Hara; William Carroll (0-1), Shane Maguire (0-1), Barry McMeel (0-1); Mark McDevitt (1-4), Daniel McNally (0-2), Orin Heaphey (0-1). Subs used; Mark Daly, Aaron McCarey. hughes talking! Prior to September 3rd last, Darren Hughes had played in 18 finals for club and college and won none of them. You can guess then just how much he welcomed Scotstown's U21 McMahon Cup final triumph last autumn! It seems these days you can never rule Scotstown teams in, nor rule them out, when it comes to setting the top table. Such is the spice of Monaghan GAA at present. God be with the days when the usual suspects stood tall at the starting line and it was all so predictable. We jest of course. Duopolies do nothing for the cause. In 2007 shoo-ins for league and championship titles were as scarce as hen's teeth; so be it with the line-up for the Under 21 Championship. Scotstown were fancied but a far from odds-on bet to bring home the booty. It seemed only a fool or a wealthy punter would attempt to predict a likely winner. The blues were banking on their county title winning minor team to backbone the bid to land the Under 21 title in '07 but would they have enough experience to crack it? The team-management of Dermot Maguire, Mikey Caulfield and Gerard Caulfield were intent on embellishing the club's burgeoning underage record though. "We wouldn't have been installed as favourites but the management had great faith in us and we felt we were as good as any other team," says county ace Darren Hughes. "Things have been going well at minor and under 16 levels over the last couple of years but apart from those of Gerry McCrudden's age, not too many would have won medals. "The last medal the lads my age would have won would have been at under 12 level so it was never going to be a case of us lacking hunger or anything like that." Ironically because of his involvement with the Monaghan senior team, Darren wasn't permitted to line out for Scotstown under 21s in their opening round fixture against Emyvale. While the blues were disappointed at Hughes' absence, matters were evened out somewhat by the inability of fellow countyman Brendan McKenna to strut his stuff for Emyvale. As things panned out, the north Monaghan derby duel ended in a draw with Emvyale firing home a penalty with the last kick of the game to ensure a replay. "We were leading the whole way but things got tight towards the end of the game when they had us pinned back and maybe a draw was a fair result at the end," Darren opines. How disappointing was it for the second year Jordanstown Business Studies student that he couldn't feature in proceedings? "It was naturally very disappointing but it was the week leading into the Ulster championship and it was the same for Brendan McKenna. "I knew that there was good enough cover there in the squad and even when we ended up drawing, I felt that there was a lot more to come from us." Latton proved to be very stubborn opponents thereafter in Aghabog with the would-be winners having to dig very deep to ease home winners by the minimum of margins, 1-6 to 0-8. Operating in a midfield berth alongside Shane Bogue, Darren remembers the game against the O'Raghallaighs as being just as tough as the final scoreline suggests. Latton, spearheaded by the leadership of Eoin Duffy and Bernard O'Brien, were up for the game in a big way and determined to stay in the race for the glittering prize. "Luckily enough, we got an early goal in the first half to put us a couple of points ahead at half-time and even though Eoin Duffy got a couple of points in the second half, we held on." Next up in the northern section of the round-robin competition was a clash with near-neighbours Truagh which was played just prior to the Monaghan v Donegal Ulster SFC clash. Once again, the Scotstown team sheet was completed sans Darren Hughes. It was another close-call with Scotstown having to draw on all their reserves before coming good. The final against Clontibret stuck to the script with yet another close game ensuing. The teams were evenly-matched and knew each other's game very well. The stage was set. Clontibret, conquerors of Castleblayney in a play-off, had senior countyman Conor McManus in their ranks along with other notables such as Noel Morgan, Owen Greenan, Rodney Gorman, Daithi McKeown and Daragh Mooney. Fortunately, Darren managed to shake off a hand injury to take his place in the Scotstown line-up for the decider in Ballybay on September 3rd. It was a predictably eventful affair with Scotstown scooping the McMahon Cup on the back of a 1-12 to 0-13 triumph thanks, in part, to a tremendous second half display. In a ding-dong contest, Scotstown trailed by 0-6 to 0-8 at the interval after a five-star display by the defence limited Clontibret's drive to construct a match-winning cushioned lead. Scotstown were wont to keep their best wine 'till last and after Clontibret notched four points in quick succession between the 21st and 27th minutes, Scotstown replied with gusto. Clontibret's quick-fire scores were countered by Scotstown with a brace of points by Paul Grant and Mark McDevitt which helped close the gap at the break to just two points. "We weren't that worried at half-time because we knew we hadn't played that well and that we were capable of playing a lot better," Daniel reflects. "Daniel McNally got us a goal just a couple of minutes into the second half which gave us a great lift and then Mark McDevitt pointed which stretched our lead. "There was still never much between us from there to the finish but I think we just made more of our chances and that counted for a lot at the end of the day." How tough was the final? "The toughest game we played all year. We played the more direct football and that helped us whereas they had a short-passing game mostly which we were expecting anyway. "It was always going to go down to the wire and the big worry for me was that they'd sneak in for a goal so it was a big relief when the final whistle went." Darren had more cause than most on the Scotstown side to relish last September's county triumph as it marked the end of a frustratingly long-time run of final defeats. In the company of club, school (St. Macartans) and college (Jordanstown) peers, 20 year old Darren had tasted the bitter taste of defeat in county, McRory and Sigerson Cup finals. "I thought every time I'd get to a final that I'd get my hands on a medal but it never happened for one reason or another," Darren explains. "So to win the under 21 last September was really sweet and really great for all the players and the club itself. "Hopefully we can use this win as a stepping stone towards doing something really good at senior level in the next couple of years because the club badly wants another senior win. "We've won minor, a 'B' league and the under 21 so why not a senior championship sooner rather than later because it's a long time since 1993." All told, 2007 was a year to remember for the ace midfielder 'cum defender after his starring roles for club, college and county. Fingering his stint at Croke Park with the Monaghan seniors as the highlight of the past season, Darren says he's still very much on a learning curve and still very ambitious. Disappointed that the O'Neill County just failed to edge out Armagh in the U21 provincial final, the strong-running Scotstown star says he is itching for the 2008 season to get underway. "I'd be optimistic on both the club and county front for next year," he avers. "I think there's great self-belief and confidence in both camps and, just as importantly, the ability as well. "I don't know how things are going to plan out but hopefully I can help Scotstown and Monaghan push on from 2007 and get among the honours. "There's definitely more to come out of both squads and I'd love to be part of things if and when a championship is won." Scotstown (U21 FC final v Clontibret);Damien Murray; Kevin McMeel, Niall McKenna, Fergal McPhillips; Darragh Stirrat, James Turley (0-1), Emmet Caulfield; Darren Hughes (0-2), Shane Bogue; William Carroll, Shane Maguire, Gerard McCrudden; Daniel McNally (1-1), Paul Grant (0-1), Mark McDevitt (0-6). Subs used; Kieran Hughes and Alan Heaphey. Tweet

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